Apparatus for processing bales, for agricultural machines

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for processing bales, for agricultural machines provided with a chamber for forming a substantially cylindrical bale. The apparatus includes at least one structure for supporting a reel of banded material, of the type of a net, a polymeric film, and the like, designed to wrap the bale. The apparatus includes means of movement of a device for the transfer and delivery of an end flap of the reel to the forming chamber; such device is provided with an end blade which can move along a work path, from a first limit position, in which the blade is proximate to the reel supported by the structure, for the withdrawal of the end flap, to a second limit position, in which the blade is facing toward the chamber, for the delivery of the flap to the chamber, and vice versa, such limit positions having substantially the same height from the ground.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No.EP13425111.5 filed on Aug. 5, 2013, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing bales, foragricultural machines.

BACKGROUND

As is known, the terms “baling machine” or “forage press” are commonlyused to indicate agricultural machines designed for collecting andcompressing agricultural products such as forage or straw, in bales ofvarious shapes and sizes.

The agricultural products thus compressed, having an appreciably lowervolume, are more manageable, and this enables their easier transport andmore convenient storage, and more generally a simple management, forvarious purposes.

Among the various different types of machine that are covered by theabove mentioned category, a role of undoubted importance is occupied by“round balers”, which produce cylindrical bales.

To ensure the maintenance of the configuration assumed by theagricultural products, and thus prevent the bale that has just been madefrom breaking up, balers are equipped with devices for wrapping andtying, which are capable of wrapping the bale with a polymeric film or anet and of tying it with twine.

More specifically, with regard to the wrapping, according toconventional methods round balers are provided at the front with a reelof film or net, arranged parallel to the ground and perpendicular to theadvancement direction, from which an end flap of the material designedto wrap the bale is progressively unwound.

Precisely in order to unwind the flap, and bring it proximate to thebale that has just been formed (which is usually inside a speciallyadapted and equipped chamber, defined in the main body of the baler), infront of and parallel to the reel there is a rubberized roller, on theat least partially elastically deformable outer surface of which acounter-roller can abut, so as to be able to tension the flap of net orfilm, and, following the rotation of the roller, determine the unwindingthereof and the sending to the chamber.

At the chamber, the high centrifugal forces to which the flap issubjected, as a consequence of the rotation speed of the bale, determinethe automatic wrapping of the bale.

Such implementation solution is not however devoid of drawbacks.

The need to have a roller (and a respective counter-roller, or anotherdevice capable of abutting against the roller, so as to ensure thetightening and unwinding of the flap), determines first of all anincrease in encumbrances, which, when designing and dimensioning themachine, complicates the placement of the elements used for the tyingoperations with twine.

Furthermore, by virtue of the pressure exerted by the counter-roller,over time the roller tends to deform locally, thus compromising theoptimal operation of the apparatus, and thus the correct wrapping of thebale.

Finally, it must be noted that the roller, and the other elementsassociated with it, determines significant increases in cost andstructural complexity.

SUMMARY

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentionedproblems, by providing an apparatus that is capable of ensuring apractical and effective wrapping of the bale.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatusthat is capable of wrapping the bale with an ergonomic solution, ofpractical use for the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping apparatus,optionally provided with elements adapted to the tying of the bale usingtwine, which in any case keeps encumbrances low.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bale wrappingapparatus that ensures constant control and the braking, wherenecessary, of the reel of film or net being progressively unwound.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrapping apparatusthat ensures a high reliability of operation, even in the presence ofwind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping apparatus thatcan be easily implemented using elements and materials that are readilyavailable on the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bale wrapping apparatusthat is low cost and safely applied.

This aim and these objects are achieved by an apparatus for processingbales, for agricultural machines provided with a chamber for forming asubstantially cylindrical bale, which comprises at least one structurefor supporting a reel of banded material, of the type of a net, apolymeric film, and the like, designed to wrap the bale, characterizedin that it comprises means of movement of a device for the transfer anddelivery of an end flap of the reel to the forming chamber, the devicebeing provided with an end blade which can move along a work path, froma first limit position, in which the blade is proximate to the reelsupported by the structure, for the withdrawal of the end flap, to asecond limit position, in which the blade is facing toward the chamber,for the delivery of the flap to the chamber, and vice versa, the limitpositions having substantially the same height from the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomebetter apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive,embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, which isillustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a left-hand perspective front schematic view of the apparatusaccording to the invention, in the first limit position of the transferand delivery device;

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left-hand perspective front schematic view of the apparatusaccording to the invention, in the first limit position of the transferand delivery device, with the bale and a first covering element bothremoved;

FIG. 4 is a side schematic view of the apparatus in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right-hand perspective front schematic view of the apparatusaccording to the invention, in the first limit position of the transferand delivery device, with the bale and a second covering element bothremoved;

FIG. 6 is a right-hand perspective rear schematic view of the apparatusin FIG. 3, in the first limit position of the transfer and deliverydevice, with the bale and a first covering element both removed;

FIG. 7 is the apparatus in FIG. 6, with further components removed;

FIG. 8 is a left-hand perspective front schematic view of the apparatusaccording to the invention in FIG. 3, in the second limit position ofthe transfer and delivery device;

FIG. 9 is a side schematic view of the apparatus in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a right-hand perspective front schematic view of theapparatus in FIG. 5, in the second limit position of the transfer anddelivery device;

FIG. 11 is a right-hand perspective rear schematic view of the apparatusin FIG. 8, in the second limit position of the transfer and deliverydevice;

FIG. 12 is the apparatus in FIG. 11, with further components removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generallydesignates an apparatus for processing bales, for agricultural machinesprovided with a chamber for forming a substantially cylindrical bale,and, more precisely, in the preferred application, intended to beinstalled and used on balers, round balers and the like, designed forthe collection of agricultural products such as hay, straw and forage,and for the subsequent sending thereof to the aforementioned chamber,which is usually provided in the casing of the machine itself.

It should be made clear from this point onward that the possibility isnot ruled out of using the apparatus 1 according to the invention inother areas, and with other types of agricultural machines, according tospecific requirements, and it should also be made clear that theapparatus 1 can be installed both on self-propelled agriculturalmachines and on agricultural machines drawn by a tractor or othermotorized vehicle.

The apparatus 1 comprises in any case at least one structure (be it acylindrical core, or other structure) for supporting a reel A of bandedmaterial, of the type of a net, of a polymeric film, and the like, whichis designed to wrap the bale.

According to the invention, the apparatus 1 comprises means of movementof a device 2 for the transfer and delivery of an end flap A′ of thereel A to the forming chamber. The device 2 is provided with an endblade 3 which can move along a work path, from a first limit position(in which the device 2 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 7), in which the blade 3is proximate to the reel A supported by the structure, for withdrawingthe end flap A′, which in fact rests on the blade 3 (as can be seen inFIG. 4), and waiting for the right time for sending to the chamber, to asecond limit position, and vice versa.

In the second limit position (in which the device 2 is shown in FIGS. 8to 12), the blade 3 is facing toward the chamber, and thus during thetransition from the first limit position to the second limit positionthe blade 3 can transfer and deliver, by pushing it, the flap A′ to thechamber, into which it is attracted by the centrifugal forces which aredue to the high rotation speed imposed on the bale.

Once the second limit position has been reached, the flap A′ isattracted into the chamber by the bale, which is rotating inside thechamber (by virtue of the contact between the bale and the respectiveforming rollers, which are inside the chamber and on which the balepresses, a traction action is exerted on the flap A′ that enables itswrapping).

As can be seen clearly from the accompanying figures, such limitpositions have substantially the same height from the ground, thusensuring a path that is substantially parallel to the ground for theblade 3 (producing the advantages which will be better explained below).

It should be noted that the possibility exists of arranging anintroduction roller B, at the mouth of the forming chamber, at thesecond limit position assumed by the blade 3.

Upon reaching the second limit position the introduction roller B favorsthe transport of the end flap A′ into the forming chamber.

Furthermore, facing the introduction roller B there is usually a furthersupport roller C for belts D, which are wound around it and are designedto operate other components of the agricultural machine and of theforming chamber (or, in substitution of the support roller C, there is acrossbeam or the like).

In particular, the transfer and delivery device 2 is constitutedsubstantially by a bracket, which comprises a pair of mutually parallelarms 4 and the blade 3, which in fact is formed by a contoured plate,which is interposed between the arms 4 and extends substantially for theentire length of the reel A (and optionally of the core, if present).

In order to allow an easier movement of the end flap A′, the contouredplate that constitutes the blade 3 is conveniently curved and has atoothing along the edge 3′ directed toward the forming chamber (althoughit should be noted that apparatuses 1 can be made which are providedwith blades 3 of different shapes, and/or possibly without toothing 3a).

In an embodiment of significant practical interest, shown in theaccompanying figures for the purposes of non-limiting example of theapplication of the invention, the movement means comprise an actuatorassembly 5 of a kinematic mechanism 6, which has first of all a pair oflinkages 7 keyed along a shaft 8 that oscillates about its longitudinalaxis, parallel to the contoured plate defining the blade 3 and, ifpresent, to the core for supporting the reel A.

Each linkage 7 is pivoted to a respective contoured body 9 which, at theopposite end, is coupled rotatably to a respective arm 4, so as to beable to move it (and with it, the entire device 2 and thus the blade 3)between the aforementioned limit positions, as a result of theoscillation about its longitudinal axis of the shaft 8.

Furthermore, the kinematic mechanism 6 comprises a pair of supportlevers 10, which oscillate about respective fixed central axes 11 (whichare mutually aligned with and parallel to the shaft 8); each lever 10 ispivoted with a first end thereof to a respective arm 4 and has, at theopposite end, a guide slot 12 for a bearing 9 a coupled to the body 9(or for a wheel, or for another element capable of sliding in the slot12), for adjusting and defining (together with the body 9 itself) thedesired work path of the blade 3 (in that the position of the levers 10,and thus of the respective arms 4, depends on the position of thecorresponding bearing 9 a in the guide slot 12).

With further reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanyingfigures for the purposes of non-limiting example of the application ofthe invention, the actuator assembly 5 comprises a gearmotor 13, whichis functionally associated with a pinion 14, which in turn meshes with acrown wheel 15 which is integral with the shaft 8 and oscillates aboutthe longitudinal axis thereof.

It must be noted that the possibility is not excluded of providing theapparatus 1 according to the invention with actuator assemblies 5constituted by different components, such as for example a linearactuator associated with specific means of transmission to the shaft 8.

Conveniently, the apparatus 1 comprises at least one safety spring 16,which acts on at least one respective linkage 7 (and for example one ortwo mutually parallel safety springs 16 with axial action, for eachlinkage 7), in order to absorb any shocks underwent by the blade 3 andby the device 2 and, upon the cessation of the stress owing to theshock, to ensure the subsequent restoration of the optimalconfiguration.

Conveniently, the apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises abraking device 17 which is normally arranged to obstruct the unwindingof the reel A supported by the structure, so as to ensure a correctpositioning (and tensioning) of the net on the bale, and at the sametime prevent any losses of banded material, which could occur in anunwanted manner, damaging and/or interfering with the correct operationof the other components of the apparatus 1.

The device 17 is automatically deactivatable, upon the completedformation of the bale (or in any case upon reaching a preset diameterthereof), in order to allow the unwinding of the reel A (thanks to thetraction action developed by the blade 3 and more generally by thedevice 2) and thus the transfer and delivery of the end flap A′ to theforming chamber and the triggering of the traction of the flap A′ by thebale, as previously noted in the foregoing pages.

Furthermore, as soon as the speed of unwinding of the reel A increases(in that the end flap A′, first entrained in the second limit positionby the blade 3, is attracted by the forming chamber and by the balerotating rapidly therein), the device 17 reactivates itselfautomatically, in order to brake the banded material even while thewrapping of the bale is still in progress (without such braking in fact,the banded material could be distributed unevenly around the bale, andover its whole width).

In particular, the braking device 17 comprises an actuator 18 for themovement of a cylindrical bar 19, arranged parallel with respect to thereel A supported by the structure, from a position for braking, in whichthe bar 19 is elastically pressed against the reel A by way of brakingsprings 20, in order to obstruct the unwinding of the end flap A′, to aposition for unwinding, in which the bar 19 is spaced apart from thereel A (in order to allow the unwinding), and vice versa.

It should be noted that the scope of protection claimed herein includesapparatuses 1 which are provided with braking devices 17 of differenttypes, which may be adopted, in substitution of the device describedabove, according to specific requirements. For example, the movementactuator 18 could act on components that are directly connected to thereel A, for example on a disk brake or on a strap brake connected to thecore (if present, naturally) supporting the reel A.

Furthermore, precisely in order to allow to the device 17 to reactivateitself automatically when an increase occurs in the unwinding speed ofthe reel A, such braking device 17 comprises a revolution counter roller21, which is in parallel with and abuts against the reel A: when, uponthe entry of the end flap A′ into the forming chamber, the bale beginsto entrain the flap A′ inside the chamber itself, the revolution counterroller 21 is capable of detecting the consequent increase in unwindingspeed.

The revolution counter roller 21 is thus functionally associated withthe movement actuator 18 for sending the latter informationcorresponding to the increase in speed, so that the actuator 18 canreturn the bar 19 to abutment against the reel A and thus obtain, asdesired, the consequent automatic reactivation of the braking device 17.

Positively, the braking device 17 also comprises a sensor 22 of theposition of the movement actuator 18, which is supported by at least onesupport pin 23 which can move in a slot 24, so as to control the strokeof the movable pusher 18 a of the actuator 18, during the transitionfrom the position for braking to the position for unwinding, and viceversa.

The choice to support the actuator 18 with a support pin 23 which canmove in a slot 24 (instead of being fixed), and to arrange a sensor 22that can thus detect the movements of the actuator 18, makes it possibleto have an effective reference, in order to know, at each cycle, theposition and the movements of the actuator 18 (and for example themoment when the actuator 18 begins moving the bar 19 from the positionfor braking to the position for unwinding, and vice versa). By suitablycalculating the times and extents of the movements that it is desired toimpose on the movable pusher 18 a, it is thus possible to control thestroke at will, and more generally this makes it possible to monitorwith precision the movements of the bar 19 and of the braking device 17.

More precisely, in a possible mode of actuation of the (non-limiting)control, the position sensor 22 can detect the position of a support pin23, which can move in a slot 24 and is rigidly coupled to the end of theactuator 18 (and, more precisely, of the cylinder in which the pusher 18a slides).

The presence of the sensor 22 makes it possible to ensure the maximumreactivity of the bar 19 in the transition from the position for brakingto the position for unwinding, and vice versa, by containing the extentof the stroke of the actuator 18 during the transition from the positionfor braking to the position for unwinding.

In fact, in the position for braking, the movable pusher 18 a is pressedagainst the reel A while, at the opposite end, the above mentioned endof the cylinder, and thus the support pin 23, are facing the sensor 22,which detects their presence.

In order to command the raising of the bar 19 from the reel A in orderto allow the unwinding, the movable pusher 18 a is partially introducedinto the cylinder, for a preset stroke (corresponding to a predeterminedsliding time), thus reducing the overall length of the actuator 18. Inthe first part of the stroke, this causes the descent of the support pin23 in the slot 24, which thus loses the alignment with the sensor 22,while in the second part of the stroke, the pusher 18 a goes back upagain and thus we have the desired transition to the position forunwinding.

Thus by maintaining a sufficiently short preset time (and/or asufficiently short predefined stroke), from the moment when the sensor22 detects the movement of the support pin 23, it is possible to obtain,thanks to the sensor 22, a limited stroke, such as to ensure theunwinding of the reel A, but at the same time sufficiently contained asto allow a rapid restoration of the position for braking and thus themaximum reactivity of the device 17.

The presence of the sensor 22 also ensures that information about thecorrect braking of the reel A is available at all times, in that in sucharrangement the sensor 22 detects the presence of the support pin 23.

It should be noted furthermore that the possibility also exists ofactuating the braking device 17 by way of a button, which can be used byan operator and which is functionally associated with the movementactuator 18 (or in any case with the bar 19). When it becomes necessaryto place a new reel A on the supporting structure (upon the exhaustionof the previous reel), the operator can press the button, and thuscommand the movement actuator 18 to lift the cylindrical bar 19, inorder to allow the substitution of the reel A; subsequently, afterhaving installed the new reel A, the operator can press the buttonagain, in order to command the bar 19 to return to the position forbraking Thus thanks to the button, the operator can carry out the abovementioned operations in a practical and easy manner, without beingforced to manually move the bar 19.

Advantageously, the apparatus 1 comprises a cutter 25, which isautomatically activated upon the unwinding of a preset quantity ofbanded material from the reel A, in order to cut the unwound bandedmaterial.

In particular, the kinematic mechanism 6 comprises at least one releasepin 26, which is automatically actuated by the transfer and deliverydevice 2 upon the unwinding of the preset quantity of banded materialfrom the reel A, during the transition of the blade 3 from the secondlimit position to the first limit position.

The actuation of the release pin 26 determines the movement of thecutter 25, which is lowered thus cutting the unwound banded material (soas to leave free a new end flap A′, for example of the length of 15 cm,available for a new cycle).

Furthermore, the kinematic mechanism 6 comprises at least one tractionmember 27, which is pivoted at a first end portion to the cutter 25, andhas at the opposite end a guide slot 28 for a cylindrical support pin 29protruding from the crown wheel 15.

During the transition from the first limit position to the second limitposition the support pin 29 slides along the slot 28 so as to rearm thecutter 25 by way of the traction member 27, arranging it in the waitconfiguration, from which, as has previously been seen, it is capable ofbeing lowered in order to cut the banded material, as soon as therelease pin 26 is activated.

Advantageously, the apparatus 1 according to the invention alsocomprises a control brake 30 of the banded material unwound from thereel A, which is automatically actuated upon the cut executed by thecutter 25.

During the cutting step in fact, the cutter 25 descends rapidlypenetrating the net (if this is what constitutes the banded material,obviously), which is formed by wires of differing thickness; at the sametime, the reel A is rotating at high speed and so during the cut it doesnot stop immediately and this involves the danger that the thinnercables, which are still in traction because they tend to break later,will increase the length of the flap of net A′ that remains unwoundafter the cut.

The control brake 30 guards against such risk, making it in factpossible to control the unwinding speed and thus prevent the thinnercables (instead of being cut) from breaking under the action exerted bythe bale and the cutter 25 which tends to block the net.

The control brake 30, which is actuated only as a consequence of themotion of the cutter 25, counteracts the traction of the thin cables andis furthermore stable in the event of jumps of the cutter 25 in that itis connected with slotted link rods 31. The presence of the controlbrake 30 ensures a flap A′ of length that is constant for the differenttypes and diameters of net, guarding against the danger, owing to wind,that a flap A′ of net that is too long could be introduced into thechamber, thus causing tying to be performed too early.

Conveniently, the apparatus 1 can comprise an assembly for tying thebale by way of at least one twine, which overhangs the control brake 30:such tying assembly (independent of the device 2), can for examplecomprise respective rotating profiled elements in the area comprisedbetween the arms 4, in order to bring the twine proximate to the formingchamber.

Note that the kinematic mechanism 6 makes it possible to contain theheight of the region intended for the passage of the banded material andfor the corresponding cutter 25: the kinematic mechanism 6 in fact, ascan be seen from the description on the previous pages and from theanalysis in the accompanying Figures, is substantially arranged againstside walls 32 covering the apparatus 1 according to the invention, andthus does not interfere with the area where the banded material passes,in which the tying assembly can thus effectively be arranged andoperate, thus ensuring an optimal containment of the overallencumbrances.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention furthermore comprises ascreen 33 for the protection of the chamber, which is elasticallysupported by the kinematic mechanism 6: the screen 33 (a convenientlyshaped sheet of metal for example) prevents the apparatus 1 frombecoming clogged with the agricultural products gathered by theagricultural machine and which are compressed in the chamber for formingthe bale.

Thanks to the choice to attach the screen 33 to the kinematic mechanism6, when the blade 3 moves toward the second limit position, the screen33 also moves toward the bale, earlier with respect to the blade 3, thuslimiting the rising action of the wind, which otherwise could preventthe end flap A′ from being introduced correctly into the chamber.

The elastic support of the screen 33, which is obtained for examplethanks to supporting springs, furthermore makes it possible for theblade 3 to be brought toward the second limit position even if thepresence of some agricultural products obstructs the movement of thescreen 33.

The subject matter of the present discussion is thus also anagricultural machine (for example a baler) that comprises a chamber forforming a substantially cylindrical bale and an apparatus 1 forprocessing bales, of the type described in the previous pages.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention is thefollowing.

Thanks to the apparatus 1, it is possible to wrap a bale, obtainedinside a forming chamber, with a banded material (net, polymeric film,or the like), which is wound around itself on a core (or in any casesupported by an adapted structure), so as to form a reel A.

During the formation of the bale, the blade 3 of the transfer anddelivery device 2 is proximate to the reel A, waiting for the presetdiameter of the bale to be reached (note that holding the blade 3proximate to the reel A guards against the danger that, by virtue of thewind, the end flap A′ might be prematurely attracted toward the formingchamber, causing an early wrapping).

Upon reaching a preset diameter of the bale, the braking device 17 isdeactivated (thus lifting the bar 19 by means of the actuator 18), andthe blade 3 is moved from the first limit position to the second limitposition, driving the end flap A′ of the reel A up to the mouth of theforming chamber, from where the flap A′ can then be attracted, by virtueof the rotation of the bale inside the chamber.

The preset diameter, at which the braking device 17 is deactivated, canfor example correspond to 90% of the diameter that the bale, oncecompletely formed, has to reach (objective value). In this manner infact, the blade 3 can begin to move toward the second limit position,and stop proximate to it, while waiting for the bale to be completelyformed (diameter equal to 100% of the objective value), at which pointit can be brought to the second limit position, for a faster andprompter introduction.

The movement of the blade 3, and of the delivery device 2, is ensured bythe actuator assembly 5 and by the kinematic mechanism 6, which confersthe desired work path on the blade 3.

As has been seen, as soon as the end flap A′, pushed proximate to thechamber by the blade 3, is attracted by the chamber, the revolutioncounter roller 21 detects the increase in unwinding speed and commandsthe re-lowering of the bar 19, which again brakes the reel A, even whilethe subsequent unwinding is in progress.

Furthermore, again thanks to the actuator assembly 5 and to thekinematic mechanism 6, the blade 3 retreats, after having delivered theflap A′, returning to the first limit position.

During the return to the first limit position, the blade 3 and thedevice 2 actuate the release pin 26, which causes the descent of thecutter 25 and the cutting of the banded material (naturally, by way ofan adapted dimensioning, it is possible to have the cutting occur whenthe quantity of banded material necessary for the complete wrapping ofthe bale has been unwound from the reel A).

Thanks to the simple use of a transfer and delivery device 2, equippedwith the respective blade 3, it is thus possible to perform the movementof the end flap A′, without having to resort to specially providedrubberized rollers, as occurs with conventional solutions, while stillensuring a practical and effective wrapping of the bale.

Furthermore, thanks to the choice to use a work path in which the limitpositions have substantially the same height from the ground, it ispossible to provide an apparatus 1 that is capable of wrapping the balewith an ergonomic solution, of practical use for the operator.

In fact, it should be noted that during normal operation, the operatoron average has to replace the reel A every hundred cycles of baleformation, and thus several times a day.

By ensuring a work path that is substantially parallel to the ground, orin any case with the limit positions having substantially the sameheight from the ground (thanks to the specific kinematic mechanism 6chosen, which ensures the movement of the blade 3 thanks to the combinedaction of the bodies 9 and of the levers 10, which are both actuated bythe shaft 8 and thus by the gearmotor 13), it is possible to maintainthe core (or other support structure), and therefore the reel A, at alow vertical height, thus favoring operations to replace the reel A(which can reach a weight of over 25 kg).

Furthermore, the adoption of the substantially horizontal work pathdescribed above also ensures considerable advantages in relation to theintroduction of the end flap A′ into the chamber, and thus to themovement performed by the blade 3 at and proximate to the second limitposition.

In fact, by travelling a substantially horizontal portion, the blade 3can easily be introduced between the introduction roller B and thesupport roller C (being maintained near the introduction roller B, giventhat the support roller C, with its motion, opposes the entry of theblade 3), without interfering with them and without risking collisions(for the same purpose, it is also possible, while remaining within thescope of protection claimed herein, to structure the kinematic mechanism6 in such a way that the end portion of the blade 3, at the second limitposition, approximates an arc of a circle having the same curvature asthe introduction roller B).

This would not be possible by providing for the simple hinging about afixed point of the device 2.

It should furthermore be noted that in addition to the blade 3, themovement of the cutter 25 (and the subsequent rearming) and of thescreen 33 are also commanded by the same kinematic mechanism 6, thusensuring maximum structural simplicity.

Lastly, it should be emphasized that the solution adopted ensuresencumbrances are contained, thanks to the compaction of components andto the choice to use a kinematic mechanism 6 (which is responsible, ashas been seen, for the movements), arranged against the walls 32 and inany case arranged at a greater height from the ground than that at whichthe net and/or the tying assembly can be positioned. This makes itpossible, in fact, to also install a tying assembly, the profiledelements of which can in turn be easily inserted between theintroduction roller B and the support roller C, in that the heights ofthe pivoting points about which they can be hinged are kept limited.

In practice it has been found that the apparatus and the machineaccording to the invention fully achieve the set aim and objects, inthat the use of means of movement of a device for the transfer anddelivery of an end flap of the reel to the forming chamber, providedwith an end blade that can move between limit positions which havesubstantially the same height from the ground, makes it possible toprovide an apparatus that is capable of ensuring a practical andeffective wrapping of the bale.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the appendedclaims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other,technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown inrelation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other,different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may beany according to requirements and to the state of the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for processing bales, foragricultural machines provided with a chamber for forming asubstantially cylindrical bale, which comprises at least one structurefor supporting a reel of banded material designed to wrap the bale,further comprising means of movement of a device for the transfer anddelivery of an end flap of the banded material supported by the reel tothe forming chamber, the device being provided with an end blade thatmoves along a work path, from a first limit position, in which the bladeis proximate to the reel supported by the structure, for the withdrawalof the end flap, to a second limit position, in which the blade isfacing toward the chamber, for the delivery of the end flap to thechamber, and vice versa, the limit positions having substantially thesame height from the ground, wherein the movement means comprise anactuator assembly of a kinematic mechanism which has a pair of linkageskeyed along a shaft that oscillates about its longitudinal axis,parallel to the contoured plate, each of the linkages being pivoted to arespective contoured body that is rotatably coupled, at the oppositeend, to a respective arm, for the movement of the device between thelimit positions, the kinematic mechanism furthermore comprising a pairof support levers, which oscillate about respective fixed central axes,each of the levers being pivoted, with a first end, to a respective armand having, at the opposite end, a guide slot for a bearing coupled tothe contoured body, for the adjustment of the work path of the blade. 2.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer and deliverydevice comprises a bracket that includes a pair of mutually parallelarms and the blade, the blade being defined by a contoured plate that isinterposed between the arms and extends substantially for the entirelength of the reel.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theactuator assembly comprises a gearmotor coupled with a pinion thatmeshes with a crown wheel which is integral with the shaft andoscillates about the longitudinal axis.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 1, comprising at least one safety spring, which acts on at leastone respective linkage of the pair of linkages, in order to absorb anyshocks underwent by the blade and by the device and for the subsequentrestoration of a respective position of the blade and the device.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a braking devicenormally arranged to obstruct the unwinding of the reel supported by thestructure, the braking device being automatically deactivatable, uponthe complete formation of the bale, for the unwinding of the reel andthe transfer and delivery of the end flap to the forming chamber, thebraking device being automatically reactivatable upon an increase in thespeed of unwinding of the reel.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the braking device comprises an actuator for the movement of acylindrical bar, arranged parallel with respect to the reel supported bythe structure, from a position for braking, in which the bar iselastically pressed against the reel by way of braking springs, in orderto obstruct the unwinding of the end flap, to a position for unwinding,in which the bar is spaced apart from the reel, and vice versa.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the braking device comprises arevolution counter roller, which is in parallel with and abuts againstthe reel, for reading the speed of unwinding of the reel, the revolutioncounter roller being coupled with the actuator, for sending theinformation corresponding to the increase in speed of unwinding of thereel to the movement actuator and the consequent automatic reactivationof the braking device.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, whereinthe braking device comprises a sensor of the position of the actuator,which is supported by at least one support pin that moves in a slot, forthe control of the stroke of a movable pusher of the actuator, during atransition from the position for braking to the position for unwinding,and vice versa.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising acutter, automatically activated upon the unwinding of a preset quantityof banded material from the reel, for the cutting of the unwound bandedmaterial.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the kinematicmechanism comprises at least one release pin, automatically actuated bythe transfer and delivery device upon the unwinding of the presetquantity of banded material from the reel, during the transit from thesecond limit position to the first limit position, for the movement ofthe cutter, with consequent cutting of unwound banded material, thekinematic mechanism comprising at least one traction member, which ispivoted at a first end portion to the cutter, and at the opposite endhas a guide slot for a cylindrical support pin protruding from the crownwheel, during the passage from the first limit position to the secondlimit position the support pin sliding along guide slot for the rearmingof the cutter by way of the traction member.
 11. The apparatus accordingto claim 9, comprising a control brake of the banded material unwoundfrom the reel that is automatically actuated upon the cut executed bythe cutter.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, comprising anassembly for tying the bale by way of at least one twine, overhangingthe control brake, the tying assembly comprising respective rotatingprofiled elements in the area comprised between the arms in order tobring the twine proximate to the forming chamber.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, comprising a screen for the protection of thechamber, which is elastically supported by the kinematic mechanism. 14.An apparatus for processing bales, for agricultural machines providedwith a chamber for forming a substantially cylindrical bale, comprising:at least one structure for supporting a reel of banded material designedto wrap the bale; a device for the transfer and delivery of an end flapof the banded material supported by the reel to the forming chamber, thedevice being provided with an end blade that moves along a work pathsubstantially parallel to the ground, from a first limit position, inwhich the blade is proximate to the reel supported by the structure, forthe withdrawal of the end flap, to a second limit position, in which theblade is facing toward the chamber, for the delivery of the end flap tothe chamber, and vice versa, the limit positions having substantiallythe same height from the ground; a kinematic mechanism connected to thedevice that ensures movement of the blade along the work pathsubstantially parallel to the ground, wherein the kinematic mechanismcomprises: a pair of linkages keyed along a shaft that oscillates aboutits longitudinal axis, parallel to the contoured plate, each of thelinkages being pivoted to a respective contoured body that is rotatablycoupled, at the opposite end, to a respective arm, for the movement ofthe device between the limit positions; and a pair of support levers,which oscillate about respective fixed central axes, each of the leversbeing pivoted, with a first end, to a respective arm and having, at theopposite end, a guide slot for a bearing coupled to the contoured body,for the adjustment of the work path of the blade; and an actuatorassembly that drives the kinematic mechanism to move the blade of thedevice along the work path between the first limit position and thesecond limit position.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprisinga cutter, automatically activated upon the unwinding of a presetquantity of banded material from the reel, for the cutting of theunwound banded material.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thekinematic mechanism further comprises: at least one release pin,automatically actuated by the transfer and delivery device upon theunwinding of the preset quantity of banded material from the reel,during the transit from the second limit position to the first limitposition, for the movement of the cutter, with consequent cutting ofunwound banded material; and at least one traction member, which ispivoted at a first end portion to the cutter, and at the opposite endhas a guide slot for a cylindrical support pin protruding from the crownwheel, during the passage from the first limit position to the secondlimit position the support pin sliding along guide slot for the rearmingof the cutter by way of the traction member.